RICHARD BORD GETTY IMAGES

British model Edie Campbell was told by a brand she was “too fat” to open a Milan Fashion Week show.

The 29-year-old, who has worked for the likes of Burberry and Dior, explained she found out through a series of “Chinese whispers”.

She told the Guardian: “I was absolutely fuming to be told by a brand that I was ‘too fat’ to open this year’s Milan Fashion Week.

Campbell walking for Tod’s in September JACOPO RAULE GETTY IMAGES

“A chain of Chinese whispers got back to my agent, who had to call and tell me that ‘It had been a little bit difficult in the fitting’ and ‘You’re a little bit bigger than you were last year.’

“I was incensed that I had to find out that way.”

The model – who walked for Versace, Fendi and Philosophy in Milan’s spring summer 2020 shows – didn’t name the brand.

It’s not the first time Edie has called out the fashion industry. In 2017, she published an open letter on WWD criticising the treatment of models.

“We operate within a culture that is too accepting of abuse, in all of its manifestations,” she wrote. “This can be the ritual humiliation of models, belittling of assistants, power plays and screaming fits. We have come to see this as simply a part of the job.”

Campbell with Adwoa Aboah at the Big Up Uganda Fundraising Gala in October. DAVID M. BENETT GETTY IMAGES

As part of her interview with the Guardian, Campbell, who is also an accomplished horse rider, spoke about beauty ideals.

“As a teenager I had bad teeth, blue/green pond water hair and a sort of existential malaise,” she said.

“Now I think I probably fit into the modern era’s perceived western beauty ideal, but there’s been a lot of right place/right time surrounding my success. Having my hair cut short was something people latched on to. It satisfied their longing for someone quite androgynous.”

From: BAZAAR UK